“And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” ~Pres. John Fitzgerald Kennedy, January 20, 1961

Sen. Bernie Sanders & “Birdie” Sanders

Monday, July 25: Having watched the Democratic National Convention today and enjoyed the many well-meaning speeches, including those of Michele Obama and Elizabeth Warren, I couldn’t be more pleased than with Bernie Sanders’ speech. It was the last speech of the day, yet still filled with the vim and vigor of the morn that only the Truth can bring.

Through it all, Sen. Sanders has managed to stay truthful, on message, and finally give a robust endorsement of his former rival as well. Thus, Bernie Sanders is truly a man of good character and a great politician, in my opinion.

After watching his interview with Chuck Todd shown Sunday on Meet the Press, that I had recorded, I had to admit that Bernie had shown me why I should vote for Hillary Clinton who’s poised to be the Democratic nominee. Despite my misgivings about Hillary’s willingness to actually promote the progressive Democratic Platform that Bernie and Company had worked so hard to get after the primaries ended, I now understand and see some good reasons why voting for the Democratic nominee would be better for our country, given the GOP’s agenda.

Bernie’s Vision of a Political Revolution Continues

Though some in the media, but not all, tend to mock Bernie’s concept of a political revolution during the primaries, and afterwards, I and the rest of Bernie’s supporters understood immediately, particularly after hearing Bernie speak.

In his DNC speech tonight, glad Bernie reminded us of our noble cause as follows:

“Together, together my friends, we have begun a political revolution to transform America and that revolution – our revolution – continues. Election days come and go. But the struggle of the people to create a government which represents all of us and not just the one percent – a government based on the principles of economic, social, racial and environmental justice – that struggle continues. And I look forward to being part of that struggle with you.”

Seems, Bernie Sanders’ dream of a political revolution is not so farfetched after all. Since this is what we all should be doing whenever our society loses it way and corrupts our government.

Perhaps in advising us to ask what we can do for our country, President Kennedy basically said the same thing some fifty-five years ago, during his inauguration address, when he reminded all Americans of our responsibility as citizens of a free democratic society to take an active part in our government.

Thus, as American citizens, we must also do our part to keep our government free of corruption in all its varied forms. So we can truly enjoy “the blessings of liberty” for ourselves and our children, as stated in the Preamble of our U.S. Constitution.

A Nobleman Among Us

As Bernie spoke, the camera scanned the audience that was filled to capacity according to reports. Many were crying, likely for the loss of a great leader, or so I felt. Sadly, way too many voters missed the important messages that Bernie brought to the primaries.

Sadder still, is the sorry apology the DNC announced Monday for interfering with the election process. Now, too little, too late, this apology means nothing as the damage has already been done! Moreover, the apology was only made after the “Emails From the DNC WikiLeaks Dump” exposed the DNC’s intent to undermine Bernie’s credibility.

Though his credibility is still intact, the real tragedy is that all Americans have been deprived of a noble leader in the likes of Bernie Sanders, particularly when needed the most. Perhaps behind all of our tears as Bernie graciously exits the campaign trail, is the heartbreaking fact of knowing what might have been. For rarely does such nobility appear among us and ready to serve.

The good news is, many more Americans are awake now, thanks to Bernie Sanders’ good works on the campaign trail. Who knows what the morrow will bring. After all, tomorrow is another day (to paraphrase Scarlet O’Hara, our protagonist in Gone with the Wind)!

Meanwhile, we’ve placed the future in the Hands of God. Keep the faith. And may God bless us all!

“I place the future in the Hands of God: Now are we saved indeed. For in God’s Hands we rest untroubled, sure that only good can come to us. If we forget, we will be gently reassured… No longer is the world our enemy, for we have chosen that we be its friend.” ~ A Course in Miracles (ACIM), Lesson 194

Ieshia Evans, protesting the shooting death of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge July 2016. Jonathan Bachman/Reuters

Now gone viral on the Internet, this iconic photo of Ieshia Evans, a young African American protester, and a single mom, calmly facing down two armed police officers in riot-gear, and fast approaching her, is a poignant reminder of my late Aunt Birdie’s wise resolve:

“No matter what, be calm in a storm.”

Having been born and raised in the Jim Crow South, Aunt Birdie had learned early on how to quietly summon her dignity and courage so as to get through the local marketplace in a super hostile society in the Deep South. This, of course, is contrary to Hillary Clinton’s lame observation while speaking before the NAACP’s annual conference in Cincinnati Ohio recently that: “Many African-Americans fear the police.”

Most African Americans Don’t Routinely “Fear the Police”

No Hillary, most African Americans don’t routinely fear the police or anyone else for that matter! We also have great respect for law and order. Yet, much like you and other law-abiding citizens, we just don’t want to be shot and killed with impunity by an undisciplined police officer while peacefully going about our daily affairs. Such are the hard facts still facing us today!

Actually, our failure to correct undisciplined Police officers is society’s real problem. Racism is but a symptom of a deeper ill in our society. When the right leadership comes into power, this too will be resolved. Meanwhile, election 2016 is underway.

Election 2016, Hillary Chooses Her V.P.

On Friday, July 22, Hillary Clinton announces her VP pick. Needless to say I was very disappointed in her choice. And thus reminded why I have no confidence in her to make progressive decisions for our country. While she loves to tout that she is a progressive, I just don’t believe her, plain and simple.

There are two reasons why I can no longer support Hillary Clinton, though I reconsidered such after Bernie Sanders’ endorsement of her:

First, in my opinion, if Hillary was a true “progressive” she would have chosen Bernie Sanders as her running mate. Actually, I thought that she would, given all of her posturing about being stronger “working together.”

The day of Bernie’s endorsement, Hillary states that there was much to do. Given her smarts, I thought she would have taken advantage of Bernie’s drive, his historic ability to unite people and raise funds properly. Moreover, Bernie’s organizing talents, goodness and wisdom would be a tremendous asset toward advancing our country, which would have made her a great president! But, foolishly, she didn’t make that choice.

Next, her decision making has not changed. Seems Hillary Clinton is more about her own comfort, the optics, the money, and not about her sacred responsibility to We-the-people. While in many respects, Sen. Kaine is likely a nice person. The fact that he is reputed to be an advocate for more bank deregulation is very troubling, to say the least!

According to this recent Huffington Post article titled, Tim Kaine Calls To Deregulate Banks As He Campaigns To Be Clinton’s VP by Zach Carter: “Kaine signed two letters on Monday urging federal regulators to go easy on banks ― one to help big banks dodge risk management rules, and another to help small banks avoid consumer protection standards.” Seems a repeat of the same disastrous policies of the Bill Clinton administration that allegedly were Republican or Conservative initiatives is upon us once again. Who are these people? And why are they passing as Democrats, the party for the people?

Touting Sen. Kaine’s fluency in Spanish as a nod to the Latino community is a proverbial slap in the face, in my opinion. How tacky is that?

Monday July 25, the Democratic Convention begins in Philadelphia. Prayerfully hoping for the best in all respects.

A Note to Hillary Clinton

“You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time (Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. President).

Praying for you and our country, and so we place the future in the Hands of God, Amen!

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” ~United States Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

Norman Rockwell (1894–1978), was one of America’s most prolific illustrators of the 20th Century. His calendar illustration of the Spirit of ’76 is his last commission for the Boy Scouts of America, completed when Rockwell was eighty-two years of age.

For me, the leading figures with fife and drum oft-depicted in most Spirit of ’76 images, best illustrate the three driving needs upon which our great country was found. These being: Life, Liberty and Happiness, great spiritual needs that drives us all.

Time to Think About Karma:UniversalLaw of Cause and Effect

Yet, in pursuit of our own basic needs, least we not forget the Universal law of Cause and Effect (Karma). In other words, what we create for others we’re certain to realize in our own lives eventually, unless we change drastically. Thus, it’s always best to treat others as we would like to be treated.

Sadly, many of our lawmakers have not only forgotten this basic spiritual law of Cause and Effect but seem to believe that they are above the law. That they can do as they please to further their own needs without giving thought to how their actions will affect others. Which, of course, is their sacred responsibility to first consider the needs of We-the-people.

Perhaps this is what is meant by this famous quote from one of our nation’s founders: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” ~President John Adams, c. 1798

As our nation moves towards electing our next U.S. president in November, let us remember to prayerfully vote for the candidate who best reflects the righteous intent, sanity, and morality to uphold the quality of life for all of us, as best reflected in our founding documents.

Vote for Good not Evil

To vote for the right one, we may even have to go beyond the chosen nominees of our major political parties, if that is still the case. Now known as the “lesser of two evils” which is a dangerous game being played by the establishment, we are also free to write in the presidential candidate who has shown the moral courage and political will to do the right thing.

Fellow Americans, we are so much better than having to vote for the so-called “lesser of two evils” chosen by the establishment. Thus with a little faith and the necessary research to balance our thinking, we are destined to do so much better than that.

Happy 240th Birthday America, so glad you were born. We’ll get it right eventually.

Meanwhile fellow Americans, let’s recall our sacred duty to others as well as to our self. Keep the faith. Vote for Good not evil. And let the church say, Amen!